Roch Cholowsky was either overcome with emotion or simply reacting to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred butchering his last name, but in either case, the UCLA shortstop burst into tears after being announced as the first pick of Saturday’s draft.
‘With the first pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox select Roch Cholowsky,’ Manfred said, twisting the surname’s second vowel into an ‘ooo’ sound.
For those unfamiliar with the impressive Arizona-born infielder, his name is pronounced: ‘Rock Chill-OW-skee.’
Always eager to criticize the commissioner, fans blasted Manfred online for flubbing the very first name of the draft.
‘Rob Manfred had a full year where Roch Cholowsky was the no-doubt No. 1 Overall pick and he still butchered his name on Draft Day,’ college baseball writer Noah Bieniek wrote on X.
‘How many years did Manfred have to learn how to pronounce Cholowsky?’ one fan asked on X.
Roch Cholowsky is comforted by family after being drafted first overall on Saturday
Roch’s father, a former minor league catcher, watches on as other family embraces Cholowsky
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky goes No. 1 overall to the Chicago White Sox during the 2026 MLB Draft shown on the scoreboard before Saturday’s game agaisnt the Athletics
But if Manfred was eager to sidestep the fan abuse, he got a timely assist from Cholowsky, whose tears quickly stole the show.
It’s not unusual for draft picks in any sport to cry while embracing family members upon hearing their name called. But seated at a remote watch party alongside his father, a former minor league catcher, as well as other relatives and friends, Cholowsky really let loose.
‘Red flags on the tears,’ one particularly harsh critic wrote on X. ‘What the hell. That’s not what your teammates want to see. They want to see a stoic MFer. A killer. [Pirates pitcher Paul] Skenes type killer. Stop crying, you have much to learn before Chiraq.’
Many others were happy to see the emotional outpouring from Cholowsky, while some ignorant fans chose to poke fun at the White Sox, apparently unaware that manager Will Venable’s team is tied for first in the American League Central after years of futility.
‘I’d cry too if I was drafted by a pathetic organization,’ read one such post.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces Roch Cholowsky of UCLA as the first pick in the 2026 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox at Pennsylvania Convention Center
Commissioner Rob Manfred is seen announcing another draft pick on Saturday in Philadelphia
Over three seasons and 178 games with the Bruins, Cholowsky hit 52 home runs to go with an impressive .329 average, .448 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage
But Cholowsky is absolutely thrilled to be joining a first-place team that is in the process of being sold by long-time owner Jerry Reinsdorf to minority owner Justin Ishbia. The former Bruins star was on hand on June 9 when White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery hit a walk-off home run to beat the visiting Atlanta Braves in his MLB debut.
Afterwards, Cholowsky told reporters on Saturday, he walked around the city for hours to get a feel for the town.
‘I left the next morning and called my agent and told him that’s where I want to be and he’s got to do whatever he can to make it work,’ Cholowsky said. ‘I know that’s where I want to be, and I hope you guys feel the same way about me. I fell in love with the city while I was out there and very excited to get back.’
Over three seasons and 178 games with the Bruins, Cholowsky hit 52 home runs to go with an impressive .329 average, .448 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage. What’s more, he’s believed to have Gold Glove potential at shortstop, thanks to his quick feet and strong arm.
